Wow, over 50 reviews!!! This is the most I've ever gotten. Thanks to Christina, Seredipity9, smilez4eva, Jaime, scrawn, ErabuHikari, a.k.a.-ahley, Constructive Critic,frodosam4ever, LOSTinFishboy, daisyduke947, hanna, alias09, and to my somewhat misguided friend for their reviews.

Disclaimer: I still do not own any of these characters.

Kate: Now

She was floating happily. Kate gazed up at the bright blue, sunlit sky and sighed happily. She slowly moved her arms back and forth to feel the cool, crystal blue water flow around her body.

Her joy was suddenly dissipated with a loud clap of thunder. Before she had time to react, the sky had gone black and lightening filled the sky, casting flickering lights on the churning water. She felt herself beginning to panic as the waves heated up. She looked desperately around her, but she could not see land anywhere for miles and miles.

Kate couldn't remember how she had let herself get so far away from the safe shores. She had been so happy, what had happened?

She whirled around again when she heard a roaring sound .A swirling whirlpool was moving closer and closer to her. Try as she might, she could not swim away fast enough. Involuntarily, she felt herself begin to scream...

"Jack!" Her eyes snapped open to reveal a darkened tent. She hoped that no one had heard her screaming, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Sawyer was in her tent in an instant.

"I was standing outside and I heard you scream..."

She sat up, annoyed that he of all people had come in. "I'm fine, Sawyer. Goodnight."

"I could've sworn that I heard you call for Jack. I'm surprised he wasn't here with you."

Kate was thankful that the darkness hid her reddening cheeks. "Don't go there, Sawyer."

"Just one question, then. What exactly is going on with you two?"

"I don't know yet. Everything takes time. We're going to move slowly. Now leave."

"Remember that I'm always available for you, Kate."

"Sure, Sawyer. Whatever. Night!"

"Night." He walked out languidly.

Kate breathed deeply and lied back down on her bed. She was happy now, but who knew what could happen at any moment? She could not shake the feeling that a storm was going to come into her life sooner than she had thought...

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Kate spent that day and the next alone with her thoughts for the most part, just doing simple tasks to help out the camp. Jack had gone on an expedition to find plants suitable for medical use and she missed him greatly. Kate had always liked having time to herself, but at times like these she hated to be alone with her own thoughts. She could not stop pondering Jack's wife. True, he might never see the woman again. There was no way this could possibly hurt her or get back to her. He had even stopped wearing his wedding ring, so he obviously couldn't care all too much for her, right? Maybe she would ask...

Her attention was caught by noise from the trees. Half the camp rushed over to Jack and his small party, asking them all about their journey and begging for assistance in various matters. Kate continued shelling the seeds she had collected from the island, biding her time. She knew that she would have Jack to herself later, she needed to let him help everyone else for now.

Finally, the sun went down in a magnificent display of purple and red and orange and her fellow campers began to turn in for the night. Stretching her legs, Kate took the roundabout way over to the medical tent that adjoined Jack's.

Before walking in, she began to attempt to fix her unkempt hair and slightly torn jeans. Looking up, she laughed at the realization that Jack was watching her. She walked into his tent and turned to face him, smiling.

"Hello, Kate, he said. "You don't have to worry about your clothes and hair, you know. You look beautiful regardless."

Kate threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. She was ecstatic to have her lover back and it seemed that he felt the same way. She could feel herself getting caught up in the moment. She slid her hand down, breaking their kiss for a moment to slip first his shirt off, then her own. She moaned softly as he ran his warm harms up and down her bare back. Panting, Kate fell back onto the small cot. Jack followed her down, deepening the kiss.

After a few moments, Jack gently pulled back from her. Sighing, he adjusted his weight and lay down next to her. "We don't want to get carried away or move too fast. That would ruin it."

Kate was disappointed, but she agreed with him wholly. "Yes. I don't want to be some meaningless mistress, Jack."

"I would never let you be that."

She leaned over and kissed him again, this time more softly. Reaching his arm out, Jack wrapped it around her and pulled her closer. Kate laid her head on his shoulder and settled herself against him.

She was thoughtful for a few moments. She suddenly was overcome with the desire to know the truth. Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Jack, do you love her?"

His eyes blinked open and he turned toward her, considering. "Do I love who? Carol? No."

"Did you ever love her?"

"No."

"You say that without even giving it thought."

"I've always known there was nothing special between us."

"Then why did you marry her?"

This Jack needed to consider a moment. "I..."

Suddenly, Sawyer pushed aside the tarp and came rushing in. "Jack, come quick!" He paused when he saw Jack and Kate, who looked up at him in surprise. "Interesting, Miss Take Time and Move Slowly."

Kate shot him an annoyed look. "What do you want?"

"Oh, yeah. We found a survivor. I don't know if she's going to make it. You should probably come soon, Doc."

A worried look crossed Jack's face as he quickly got up and pulled on his shirt. Kate followed suit, and all three of them hurried out to the medical tent. A woman with her back towards them was lying on her side, shivering and quaking. Jack knelt next to help and gently rolled her over on to her back. Kate and Sawyer were horrified. Despite her hair being in her face, she was obviously very ill – her face was dead white and there were bruises and scratches up and down her arms.

"It will be okay, mam. I'm going to help you, I promise." Jack slowly began to push her hair out of her face.

The woman moaned and squinted up at him. "Jack? Is that you?"

Jack gasped and jumped back in shock. "Carol?!"

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Next chapter: Things get complicated...

Let me know what you think so far. I'll try not to keep you waiting too long!